Details

The Fender 2016 American Elite Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker RW Electric Guitar is a heady combination of classic design meeting modern innovation with exceptional results. The inclusion of the Shawbucker pickup on this model opens up the aggressive heart of the Strat, giving you a fuller tonal range to explore and a high output that is begging to be put through its paces. Whatever style of music you play, you'll find the perfect tone to meet your needs with minimum fuss, allowing you to get on with what you do best.

Cool Strat Style

The American Elite series are crafted from alder, which is a Fender favourite that has carried out the task of body tonewood for decades. Boasting a smooth output with a delicate tonal balance, alder is light in weight and a joy to perform with. The body has been treated with the same care and attention we've come to expect from the team at Fender, with curves in all the right places to ensure a supremely comfortable feel. The body has been treated to a protective layer of gloss polyurethane, thus guaranteeing resilience when handling changes in temperature and humidity.

Redesigned Neck Profile

Known for their fast playing feel, Strats offered one of the most comfortable playing surfaces your hands could ever hope to meet. Now Fender have gone one step further and extended that comfortability along the entire length of the neck, by incorporating a modern C to D profile, as well as an updated neck heel. Alongside the double-cutaway body shape, you hand is given even greater access to the upper frets, making it easier than ever to explore each and every inch of the neck in its entirety.

Double-Action Truss Rod

In order to improve intonation and sustain, Fender have designed a double-action truss rod that can be accessed via the heel-mounted spoke wheel adjustment at the base of the fingerboard. This allows you to adjust the neck precisely to improve performance. At the top of the neck the synthetic bone nut partners well with the deluxe cast/sealed locking tuners to uphold tuning integrity throughout the most enthusiastic of performances.

The silky smooth, single-piece maple neck is paired with a sumptuous 22 medium-jumbo fret rosewood fingerboard that is adorned with large pearloid dot inlays to guide your way. The back of the neck has been given a satin urethane finish to prevent tackiness or stickiness from impeding your hand as you move up and down the neck.

N4 Noiseless Pickups

The newly designed N4 Noiseless pickups are exclusive to the American Elite series, combining the best of both worlds - vintage tones with modern performance. Whether you're performing bright and lively country, hard and heavy rock, smooth blues chops - you get the idea -, the Noiseless pickups translates the textured timbre of the tonewoods without unwanted hum, so you're left with a pristine output.

Control comes in the form of a five-way pickup selector switch that allows each pickup to be selected individually, or create neck/middle and middle/bridge combinations for a fuller tone. There is a master volume pot with a S-1TM switch, as well as a neck tone pot, and a middle and bridge tone pot with no-load circuitry that enables you to dial back the highs, without introducing unwanted low-end to the signal for a tighter-sounding output.

Shawbucker Bridge Pickup

In the bridge position, Fender has fitted a Shawbucker pickup, which was designed by legendary pickup guru Tim Shaw. The beauty of the Shawbucker is that it adds a new dimension to the Strat's tonal offering. Alongside the sharpness and clarity offered by the neck and middle single-coils, you now have a warm, tight, and powerful driving warmth that sings when played cleanly, and roars when driven hard through your amp of choice. The Shawbucker also comes with a push-push passing lane switch that engages the bridge pickup and bypasses the tone controls to offer a huge output.

Gig-Ready Hardware

The body is fitted with the 2-point deluxe synchronised tremolo with pop-in arm, which creates a seamless connection between the strings and body for optimised intonation and sustain, as well as guaranteeing smooth vibrato control. Each model is supplied with an Elite moulded case to protect your new pride and joy, whether it remains at home or travels the world with you.